Did you know that in the 2012 election, that saw to President Barack Obama’s re-election AND strong voter presence nationally amongst Latinos, there was an estimated 12.2 million Latinos who actually voted?
Did you also know that in 2012 an estimated 14.7 million Latinos were registered to vote? With only 12.2 million out of 14.7 million Latinos voting there is an estimation of 2.5 million Latinos who didn’t vote.
How about this, did you know that 8.6 million Latinos who were eligible to vote in 2012 didn’t register to vote at all?
If you said “No” to any of the questions, and think or feel that it isn’t an issue well it kind of is.
In Texas alone there was an estimated 2 million Latinos who were eligible to vote who aren’t registered, and this is a problem because those 2 million Latinos amongst the many more throughout the country remain voiceless.
And the number of voiceless Latinos can get higher.
Every year there’s an estimated 900,000 Latinos who turn 18 and can become eligible register to vote that may not register. To ensure that more Latinos get involved in the voting process two organizations are coming together to get Latinos mobilized to vote and reclaim their voice in America.
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), a non-profit civil rights and advocacy organization working to improve the opportunities and lives for Latino Americans in the United States, and Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, a national non-profit organization working to unite the Latino community and its allies to promote social and economic justice through increased civic participation, are launching a voter campaigning six-months in advance to ensure that millions of voiceless Latino are given a voice in the upcoming elections.
”We know the more our community participates, the more our voices are going to be heard,” said Ben Monterroso, Executive Director of Mi Familia Vota.
The two organizations are planning to get an estimated 250,000 Latinos registered for 2014 by ensuring that at least 2.5 million Latinos receive their voter card to register via mail. The organization will then do follow-ups to make sure the voter cards are filled out and mailed back ensuring the first step of giving back a voice which is Latinos become registered to vote.
The reason behind some Latinos not registering to vote may be a fear of alerting authorities in-regards to a family member’s citizenship status. And while this concern may be just, becoming a registered voter means you are given a chance to represent and protect said family by partaking in the political right to ensure immigration reform that could protect your family.
For Black, Asian, Latinos or Gay and Lesbians Americans the purpose of the vote, our vote, is important because years ago our vote was either non-existent or could have been taken away. We could have been voiceless when it comes to all matters that are given to American citizens to vote on.
So if you’re not registered to vote, register. Make your vote count, make your voice heard and educate yourself on the issues, make sure you can vote, and get to the voting booth and cast it.
It is your right.
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